Package of curved glass sheets



April 24, 1956 M. c. KOESTER PACKAGE OF CURVED GLASS SHEETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1951 April 1956 M. c. KOESTER PACKAGE OF CURVED GLASS- SHEETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1951 April 1956 M. c. KOESTER PACKAGE OF CURVED GLASS SHEETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12, 1951 United States Patent PACKAGE OF cunvan GLASS SHEETS Melvin C. Koester, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Libbey- OWens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, :1 corporation of Ohio Application December 12, 1951, Serial No. 261,236

Claims. (Cl. 20662) The present invention relates broadly to the art of packaging and more particularly to a palletized shipping container for the storage and transportation of articles, said container preferably incorporating therein cushioning means of a novel character for supporting said articles during shipment.

An important object of this invention is to provide an expendable relatively inexpensive shipping container that is capable of receiving and transporting a comparatively large number of sheets of glass or like material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a palletized shipping container which is readily transportable from one location to another by the customary materials handling devices and which may be vertically stacked by such devices one upon the other to conserve storage space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a palletized shipping container of light through durable construction in which adequate protection is afforded the sheets of glass or like material packed therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a palletized shipping container which is capable of complete prefabrication and which is composed of a minimum number of parts that may be readily and quickly assembled at the situs of the loading operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pallet type bottom of a new and improved character, constructed in a manner whereby an interlocking engagement between said bottom and the end and side sect-ions of the shipping container is established, thereby providing adequate bracing support for said sections and a completed container of. exceptionally sturdy yet light construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide cushioning means of a novel type in association with a shipping container of the above character, said means conforming in general to the curvature of the glass sheets packaged within said container and functioningto space said sheets from the walls of the container and maintain the sheets in a substantially rigid cushioned relation with respect to the container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of'the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a prespective view of a completed palletized shipping container constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the shipping container, showing particularly the construction of the pallet type bottom;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; t

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

the

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. l;

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the top and one side section, respectively; and

Figs. 10 and 1 1 are perspective views of the cushioning filler members.

While the container of this invention is particularly suited for the packaging and shipment of 'bent or curved glass sheets and will be describedhereinafter as utilized for that purpose, it will be appreciated that the container herein disclosed may be used for other articles of a similar character and that the invention is not limited to any specific used. In the accompanying drawings is shown a preferred form of the invention, wherein is provided a rectangular palletized shipping container designated in its entirety by the numeral 15 and comprising "a pallet type bottom 16, end panel sections 17 and 18, side panel sections 19 and 20, and a top or lid 21.

The pallet type bottom 16, which constitutes the floor or base of the shipping container 15, is compose-d of three pairs of longitudinally extending parallel skids 22 and stringers 23. Arranged between and secured to the skids and stringers are spacer blocks 24 which are disposed at opposite ends of the bottom and also intermediate the opposite ends thereof to provide between said blocks openings readily accessible to the tongs of a fork lift truck, not only from the sides of the container but also from the ends thereof. Running transversely to the stringers 23 and'secured thereupon to constitute the deck of the pallet bottom are the floor planks 25. it is to be particularly noted, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, that the outermost stringers 23 are positioned inwardly of the exterior side faces of the spacer blocks 24 and that said stringers are not only relatively shorter than the skids 22, but that the relatively wider outer floor planks 26 extend over the ends of the stringers 23. This novel arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter described in greater detail, provides recessed portions on the ends and sides of the container for the lower bracing members of the end and side panel sections and thereby grants substantial rigidity to this relatively light shipping container.

Each end panel section 17 and 18 comprises a plurality of relatively thin vertical end members 27, which are produced from a material described in the packaging art as veneer, arranged in abutting side by side relation. These members are braced on their outer surfaces by relatively thicker vertical bracing members 28 abutting upon the spacer blocks 24 and one or more horizontal bracing members 29, said latter members providing means to which may be attached the grab hooks of a loading sling whereby the container may be rapidly and safely transported from one location to another and stacked one upon another without the danger of said container breaking apart during such handling. Functioning to further support the end panel sections and to maintain said sections rigid with respect to the pallet bottom 16 and the side panel sections 19 and 20 are the horizontal inner cleats 30. These cleats, which are attached to the inner surface of the vertical side members 27 adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, are mitered on their opposite ends for cooperative engagement with the corresponding mitered members on the side panel sections 19 and 20. In addition, the lower horizontal cleats v30 function to join the end section to the pallet bottom, and when in their normal position between the floor planks 26 and spacer blocks 24 and'abutting against the'opposite ends of the stringers 23, rigidly secure the end sections to said bottom.

The side panel sections 19 and 20 are constructed of a plurality of relatively thin closely arranged vertical men-rbers'31 of the same typen iate rial as the end sections and are supported on their inner surfaces adjacent the top and bottom thereof by horizontal inner cleats 32, said cleats also being miterecl at their opposite ends for association with the cleats onthe end sections. The lower cleats 32 are designed for reception within the side recessed portions, and when so positioned upon assembly of the container, abut against the outer surfaces of the stringers 23 and are maintained between the floor planks 25 and 26 and spacer members '24. As may be seen in Fig. 3 the side panel section 19 and the end panel sections 17 and 18 are joined together into a single mat for 638.6 of assembly and to irnpart'rigidity thereto by a plurality of horizontal wires or the like 33. These wires, .which are normally secured to the end and side vertical members 27 and 31 by staples or the like 2 54, are received within grooves on the inner surfaces of the vertical bracing members 28 on the end sections 17 and 18 and are pro- ,vided at their elnds with loops 35 through which are passed upon closure of the container, the loops 36 formed on the ends of the horizontal wires or the like 3,7 on the side panel section The latter side section resembles'its opposite companion section 19 and, as illustrated in Fig. 9, is formed of a plurality of vertical side members 38 arranged in abutting side by side relation and braced adjacent the top and bottom of theinner surfaces thereof by mitered horizontal cleats 39 which are received in the recessed portion on the other side of the container.

The top or lid 21 is composed of a number of closely arranged transverse slats 40 of the same type material as the vertical members 27, 31 and 38 of the end and side sections. Preferably the top is braced on its under surface by longitudinal bracing members 41. These members are arranged in a manner whereby the ends thereof abut against the horizontal inner cleats 39 on the end panel sections 17 and 18, to thereby brace the container 15. In addition, as may be seen inFig. 4, the sides of said members 41 are closely spaced from the upper horizontal inner cleats 32 and 39 on the side panel sections 19. arid 20 respectively. Disposed on the upper surface of the top or lid 21 are locating members 42. which are preferably attached to the top on line with the-ends themof and spaced inwardly of the top a distance slightly in excess of. the width of the skids 22 of the pallet bottom 16. These locating members 42 serveto, prevent sliding of the shipping container 15 as it is stacked upon another of similar design; it being epparent that the skids 22 of the upper container will engage said members 42 of the lower container to assure proper stacking of the containers.

The presentinvention further contemplates the provision of novel means in direct association with the stack of glass sheets or the like for cushioning and spacing said stack from the sides of the shipping container. Such means comprise, as may be seen in Figs. 2, 7, l0 and 11, a pair of die-cut filler pads 43 and 44, These pads, which are preferably constructed of double face corrugated cardboard, fiberboard, paperboard or the like, are formed to provide cushioning contact between theconvex and concave surfaces of the stack A of curved glass sheets and the side panel sections 19 and 20 of the container. The pad 43 shown in Fig/l0, and designed to engage the convex surface of the stack A, is of a length substantially equal to the length of the stack A and is fabricated from a plurality of channel braces 4-5 intersected by concavely shaped fillers 46 Each filler is slotted at a number of points along its length, as'at'47, to provide therebetween" ribs 48, which are received between th'e legs 49 of the channel braces' lfi as the slots 50 presented by said braces receive therein the slots 47 of each concavely shaped filler 46. The fillerpad 44 shown 'in Fig. 11, which functions to cushion and brace the concave surface of thestack of glass sheets, differs from the other filler pad 43 mainly in the shape of "the fillers 51 forming a part of the pad 44. Thus, the fillers 51.0fm: lat r had Pr sen a conve contou which o responds to the curvature of the concave surface of the stack A. In other essential respects, that is, length of the filler pad 44 and the provision of slotted channel braces 52, the pads 43 and 44 are identical.

In order to grant a smooth and continuous surface upon which the stack A of glass sheets may rest when packaged within the container 15, there may be provided on the deck or upper surface of the pallet bottom 16 substantially L- shaped members 53. These latter members, which preferably closely approximate the width of the pallet bottom, are located over the opening extending between the outer floor plank 26 and the floor plank 25 adjacent thereto at each end of the container 15. These L.-shaped members may be suitably secured to the floor planks 25 and 26 upon which they rest, and as shown in Fig. 7, provide support adjacent and under opposite ends of the stack A of the doubly curved glass sheets shown. To avoid scratching of the edges of the glass sheets by the floor planks 25 and to grant a more uniform foundation upon which to locate the stack A, sheets 54 of cushioning ma terial such as corrugated paperboard .or the like may be positioned over the L-shaped members 53 and beneath the stack 'A. In addition, if'desired, additional sheets 55 of cushioning material may be located at opposite ends of the container adjacent the end panel sections 17 and 18 and also on top of the stack A of glass sheets to effective- 1y preclude chipping along the edges thereof. In accordance with customary procedure, kraft paper or other suitable substances are preferably interposed between the in.- dividual glass sheets in the stack to prevent scratching of the surfaces thereof.

In addition to the horizontal wires 33 and 37 above described for joining the end panel sections 17 and 18 and side panel sections '19 and 20 together, there is also pro.- vided longitudinal strapping 56 and transverse strapping 57 and 58. As shown in Fig. 1, the longitudinal strapping extends completely around the end and side panel sections of the container parallel to the base and on a horizontal line substantially midway between the top and bottom of said sections. The transverse straps 57 and 58 perpendicularly overlap the longitudinal strapping 56, extend about the girth'of the shipping container, and pass beneath the stringers 53 of the pallet bottom 16, thereby functioning to secure the side sections 19 and 20 and top 21 together and to the pallet bottom. Although metal strapping is preferred, leather, cotton or other suitable strapping materials may be used if desired.

In order to expedite the assembly and subsequent loading of the shipping container, it is desirable that all component parts of the container be prefabricated before being brought to the situs of the assembly and loading ipenes In then assembling the container, the end panelsections 1 7 and 18 and side panel section 19, which sections are preferably joined together into a single mat by means of the horizontal wires 3;, are located on the pallet bottom by first positioning the lower horizontal inner cleat32 of the side section 19 in the recessed portion formed by the extension of the floor planks Z S a'nd 26 beyond the outer stringers 23. The end panel sections are then folded inwardly toward the pallet bottom and the ntitercd ends on the horizontal inner cleats 30- at the a ections v q t fit ga st d cooperate with the mitered ends of the horizontal cleats on the side section 19. When in such position, the lower cleats n he end pane s ct on an .8 are e e ved i in the recessed portion created at each opposite end of the pallet bottom, by the. termination of the stringers 23 short, of the. ends of the spacer blocks 25 and the overlapping of opposite ends of the stringers by the outer side edges of thefloor planks 26,. By means of these novel recessed portions, not on y at the ends of the pallet bottom but also at the sides thereof, the end and V side panel sections become a rigid portion of the shipping container and thereby are prevented from moving inwardly of the ends of said container, as during handling thereof.

The L-shaped members 53 are next secured to the deck of the pallet bottom 16 as above indicated and sheets of cushioning material 53 positioned upon said members. A filler pad 43 of the type indicated in Fig. is placed against the side panel section 19 with the channel braces 45 of said pad in parallel abutting relation to said section. Curved sheets of glass or other frangible material are then placed'on edge uponthe cushioning material 54 with the convex surface of said sheets in engagement with the concave fillers 46 of the filler pad 43. After the desired number of sheets have been thus located, the side panel section 20 is placed in proper position. In so doing, the horizontal cleat 39 attached to the inner surface of said-section adjacent the bottom'thereof is maneuvered into the recessed portion provided between the floor planks and 26 and the spacer blocks 24 inwardly of the opposite ends of said planks. After being thus located, and with the mitered ends of the horizontal cleats 39 on the side section 20 in engagement with the mitered ends of the cleats 30 on the end panel sections 17 and 18, the loops 36 of the wires 37 on the side section 20 are passed through the loops of the wires 33 on the other sections and bent backwardly or inwardly upon themselves.

The filler pad 44 shown in Fig. 11 is ihen inserted into the space between the last glass sheet in the stack A and the side panel section 20, with the convex fillers 51 of said' pad in firm resilient engagement with the concave surface of said stack and the channel braces 52 of the pad 44 abutting against the side section 20. Sheets of protective material, such as kraft paper, may be positioned between the individual glass sheets as they are loaded into the container and similar material may be located between the tiller pads 43 and 44 and the stack A to prevent scratching thereof.

Sheets of cushioning material 55 are next located between the stack A of glass sheets and the end panel sections 17 and 18 and also upon the top of the stack, after which the top or lid 21 is properly located. As noted previously, when the top is in the correct position with respect to the end and side sections, the longitudinal bracing members 41 on the under side of the lid are in close proximity to the upper horizontal cleats 32 and 3h on the side sections 19 and 20, respectively, and the ends of said members abut the upper horizontal cleats 29 on 0 the end sections to maintain said sections in their normal perpendicular position. The longitudinal strapping 56 and then the transverse strapping 5'1 and 58 are applied in the manner shown in Fig. l and above described, said strapping being tightened sufiiciently to cause indentations in and firm engagement with the wooden members over which said strapping passes. 1

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, but that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom having recessed portions opening outwardly at its opposite ends and also at the opposite sides thereof, end sections supported upon said bottom and having means on the lower portions thereof projecting inwardly received within the end recessed portions, side sections supported upon the bottom and having means on the lower portions thereof projecting inwardly received within the side recessed portions, a stack'of curved glass sheets arranged on edge upon said bottom and spaced from the side sections, resilient cushioning members positioned on fajvaa'olo opposite sides of the stack in engagement with the side sections, each of said members comprising a plurality of channel members provided with slotted portions and a plurality of filler members also provided with slotted portions, said slots of the filler members receiving said slots of the channel members in engagement therewith and said filler members presenting surfaces conforming to the curvature of the glass stack which brace said stack substantially throughout its entire length, and a top disposed upon the end and side sections.

2. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom having recessed portions opening outwardly at its opposite ends and also at the opposite sides thereof, end sections supported upon said bottom and having means on thelower portions thereof projecting inwardly received within the end recessed portions, side sections supported upon the bottom and having means on the lower portions thereof projecting inwardly received within the side recessed portions, a stack of curved glass sheets arranged on edge upon said bottom and spaced from the side sections, resilient cushioning members positioned on opposite sides of the stack in engagement with the side sections, each of said members comprising a plurality of vertical channel members having legs provided with slotted portions and a plurality of filler members provided on one edge with slotted portions and on the opposite edge with a curved surface, said curved surfaces substantially conforming to the curvature of the glass stack and said cushioning members resiliently spacing said stack from the side sections of the container upon engagement of the slotted portions of the filler and channel members one with the other, and a top disposed upon the end and side sections.

3. In a shipping container of the character described, a bottom comprising longitudinally extending skids and stringers, spacer members disposed between said skids and stringers outwardly of the ends and sides ofthe stringers, a deck comprising a plurality of transverse members carried by the stringers and extending outwardly beyond the ends and sides of the stringers to provide between said spacer members and said transverse members recessed portions at the opposite ends and sides of the container, a stack of curved glass sheets arranged on edge upon said deck, means positioned between the stack and deck and maintaining the outer portions of the curved glass sheets in spaced relation to the deck, resilient cushioning members located on opposite sides of the stack in engagement with the side sections, each of said members presenting a surface conforming to the curvature of the glass stack and in contact therewith, end sections supported upon the bottom, said'end sections comprising horizontal supporting members located on the outer surfaces of said sections adjacent the upper edges thereof and providing hook grabbing means to transport the container and vertical supporting members extending between said. horizontal members and the spacer members and abutting thereagainst, said end sections further comprising horizontal bracing members having mitered ends disposed on the inner surfaces of said sections adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof, the lower of said bracing members being received within the end recessed portions and abutting against opposite ends of the stringers, side sections also supported upon the bottom a and carrying on the inner surfaces adjacent the upper lower edges thereof horizontal members having mitered ends which engage the mitered ends of the bracing members on the end sections upon assembly of the container, the lower of said bracing members being received within the side recessed portions and abutting against the sides of the stringers, a top disposed upon the end and side sections, means carried upon the underside of the top and engaging the upper horizontal bracing members of the end sections when the top is in position, and flexible retaining members tying the bottom, end and side sections and top together.

A aska s is; sh n eat heen #3 3 99? the i a e on sdss an h in pp its sbn s and convex surfaces and curved lower edges, comprising a container including a deck side and end sections and a top, a stack of the bent sheets supported on edge upon the deck of the container, sheet cushioning material engaging the lower edges of the sheets and conforming substantially to the curvature thereof, means positioned between said deck and sheet cushioning material for maintaining the stack of sheets spaced from the deck and the cushioning material in contact with the curved lower edges of the sheets, and resilient cushioning members located at opposite sides of the stack of sheets and extending substantially the entire length thereof, each cushioning member bearing against a side section of the container and having an inner surface conforming to the curvature of the stack of sheets and in contact therewith.

5. A package for shipping bent sheets of glass or the like as set forth in claim4, in which each resilient cushioning member comprises a plurality of spaced vertical channel braces having flat surfaces engaging a side section of the container and inwardly directed spaced legs having aligned slots therein, and filler strips carried by the channel braces and received within said slots, said filler strips extending substantially the entire length of the stack of sheets, with the filler strips of one cushioning member hav n spasav sur a es saat rm ns. to and vex surfaces conforming to and engaging the concave surface of the stack of sheets.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent 1,323,098 Prentiss Nov. 25, 1919 1,325,493 Kenniker Dec. 16, 1919 1,453,071 Kleeman Apr. 24, 1 923 1,908,940 Weidel May 16, 1933 1,938,214 Bq 77.- ec- 5, 9 .3 3 932 Sh p a a Scm- 1 4 1 ,177,507 ell 9 Z 9 9 2 1 si s s 4 9st: .0 19 2 2,348,483 Lacy r May 9, 19,44 2 21 K n id a 15, 946 2,503,022 n t et l- API- 1 59 2,549,509 M m-Q T1,, 7 A r 1 1 1 2,603,349 Van Antwerpen July 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,017 Great Britain June 24, 1898 762,397 

